Deck mount for anode



Nov. 12, 1963 R. B. BENDER DECK MOUNT FOR ANODE Filed 001;. 3. 1960 in(I RICHARD B. BENDER INVENTOR. X A

TTORNEY United States Patent 3,110,659 DECK MOUNT FOR ANODE Richard B.Bender, R0. Box 11302, Fort Worth, Tex. Filed Oct. 3, 1960, Ser. No.60,154 3 Claims. (Cl. Ztl l-Hd) This invention relates to electrolyticcorrosion inhibitors and has reference to an insulating deck mount forprotective anodes.

Prevention of electrolytic deterioration of storage tanks through theuse of anodes carrying a potential difference with respect to the tanks,is a well known and established practice in this country. Whereas anunprotected tank may act as an anode with respect to the naturalpotentials between the tank and its contents remotely grounded, an anodewith an artificially established potential is used to impart cathodiccharacteristics to the tank and thus pro tect it from electrolyticdeterioration. Anodes, so used, are of course subject to deteriorationbut if they are made and mounted for simple replacement a tank may beprotected economically; because deterioration of an unprotected tankoccurs with a high degree of uniformity about the interior surfacethereof, the utility of protective anodes resides in large measure inthe comparative ease or facility with which they may be replaced. Forthe protection of water carrying tank's it is common practice to suspendone or more anodes on insulated conductors from the roof deck of thetank into the contents thereof. Because the water level of many tanksvaries from time to time it is often desirable to suspend anodes atvarious levels within a tank or link a plurality of anodes in series ona conductor which carries an insulating sheath between successi-veanodes. A major problem in the installation of such a protective systemis the provision of supporting structures within the tank from which theinsulated conductors of the anodes may be suspended. Simple hooksprojecting downwardly into the interior of the tank and attached byexterior bolts are adequate in strength but leave much to be wanted byway of protective insulation between the tank and conductor line; withthis type of support, inspection and anode replacement must beaccomplished from the interior of the tank. Obviously, when the tank isfilled with water it is inconvenient and sometimes hazardous tomanipulate the anodes therein for inspection. EX- cept in the specialcase of pressure vessels, the suspension of anode cables and coversbolted to access ports in the deck entails the use of special tools forinspection and replacement of anodes. In this regard it should beremembered that many water storage tanks are large structures requiringworkmen to operate at precarious heights while exposed to adverseweather conditions. Since a potential difference must exist between ananode and the tank in which it is suspended, insulation of an anodesupporting structure from the remainder of the tank is desirable. Whilethe insulated sheath of a conducting cable serves as such insulation,prolonged use and periodic inspection can cause wearing of the cable andresult in a short circuit unless the supporting structure from 'whichthe cable is hung is, itself, insulated from the remainder of the tank.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an anodecable support which is adequate in its strength to support one or moreanodes within a tank but which is electrically insulated from the tank.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a deck mount for tankanodes which forms a seal between the interior of the tank and theexterior thereof, but which does not require bolts or special lockingdevices for tanks which store liquids at atmospheric pressure.

A'further object of the invention is to provide a deck mount for anodescan be raised for quick anode inspection from the top of the tank.

p aliases Patented Nov. 12, 1963 A particular object of the invention isto provide a single deck mount structure adapted for use in a variety ofinstallations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounti-ng structure foranodes and which structure includes no metallic parts subject tocorrosion.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a simple deckmounting structure for storage tanks and which structure may bepositioned and held to the deck of a tank without exterior fasteners orprotuberances.

These and other objects will become apparent from the followingdescription and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partially sectional side elevational view of the inventionsecured to the deck of a pressure vessel and having an anode suspendedtherefrom.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the invention shown in a normalattachment to a tank storing liquids at atmospheric pressure.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the primary component of theinvention.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of pressure sealing components of theinvention as used in installations with pressure vessels.

In the drawing, a substantially solid cylindrical body 10 has parallelupper and lower ends 11 and 12 and includes a circular flange 13contiguous and integral with its upper end and so constructed that theflange and cylindrical body are formed on a common axis. The upper sideof the flange 13 and theupper end of the cylindrical body 10 arecoplanar with one another so that the two may be said to form acontinuous surface. A rectangular boss 14 is integrally formed with thecylindrical body 19 and projects downwardly from the lower end 12.thereof with the axis of the cylindrical body 10 passing through thecenter of the boss 14-. A transverse opening '15 passes through the boss14 and communicates opposite sides thereof. The cylindrical body 10,flange 13 and boss 14 constitute portions of a single piece which may bemolded from any of a number of suitable materials, such as glass filledphenolic resins or other thermoplastic materials. To facilitate releasefrom a mold during fabrication of the invention the walls of thecylindrical body 10 and boss 14 may be slightly tapered downwardly. Athreaded cavity 16 is formed in the upper end of the cylindrical bodylit, but (as best shown in FIGURE 2) the cavity does not extend all theway through the cylindrical body, and a drill out wall 17 obstructs thelower end of the cavity. An unthreaded cavity 18, smaller in diameterthan the threaded cavity 1.6, is formed in the lower end of thecylindrical body 10 and terminates near the upper end 11 thereof. Somuch of the cylindrical body 10 as lies between the termination of theunthreaded cavity 18 and the upper end 11 of the cylindrical body alsoconstitutes a drill out wall 19 whereby the unthreaded cavity may beextended through the cylindrical body It For installation, a circularopening 20 is cut through the roof deck 21 of a tank, and a ring gasket22, of neo prene or other suitably resilient material, is positionedabout the circular opening. An insulated line 23, including an internalconductor 24 and an insulating sheath 25, of an anode 2 6 is threadedthrough the transverse opening 15 in the boss 14; the anode is thenlowered through the circular opening 20 in the tank and the cylindricalbody 10 is likewise positioned within the circular opening so that theflange 13 rests upon the ring gasket 22. Interiorly of the tank, theinsulated line 23 is wrapped several times about itself beneath the boss14 and an end of the conductor 24 is then led to electrical contact witha rectifier or other DC. power source (not shown). To prevent thepossibility of excess wind lash it may be desirable to electricallyconnect a plural-ity of insulated lines 23 together within the tank andto extend only a single length of insulated line exteriorly of the tankto connection with a current source. In installing a group of anodes 26Within a tank and electrically connecting their insulated lines to oneanother, it is only necessary to leave enough slack in the extension ofeach insulated line to a common point of contact so that the cylindricalbody and flange 13 may be lifted irom the circular opening 28 in thetank; with the invention removed from the circular opening in the tankand placed to one side thereof the anodes depending therefrom may helifted individually from the tank for inspection or replacement.

When the tank in question is not used as a pressure vessel, as in FIGURE2, the unthreaded cavity in the cylindrical body 1% of the invention maybe extended by drilling through its drill out wall 19 and the free endof the insulated conductor (or a common lead from all conductors) may bepassed therethrough for connection with a current source. It should benoted that the cylindrical body it) of the invention is held within thecircular opening 20 in the roof deck 21 of the tank by the Weight of theanode 26, and the flange 13 of the invention bears against and makessealing contact with the gasket 22. While the anodes are thus keptpositioned and available for inspection the various circular openings21) through which the anodes are introduced into the tank are keptsealed against exterior dust, rain and run off water irom the deck.

For use on a pressure vessel a circular opening 2% is cut as previouslydescribed in the deck 21 of the vessel and a plurality of lugs 27radially spaced from the circular opening 20 by a distance greater thanthe width of the flange 13 are regularly spaced from one another aboutthe circular opening. An annular plate 28 having an inner diameter lessthan the outer diameter of the flange 13, but greater than the diameterof the cylindrical body 10, and

having its outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the flangeand the spacing between lugs 27 at opposite sides of the circularopening 20, is provided with a plurality of holes adapted to receive thelugs projecting from the vessel. The cylindrical body 10 is placedwithin the circular opening 22 as described before so that the flange 13bears upon the ring gasket 22 and the annular plate 28 is placedconcentrically upon the flange 13 so that the holes in the annular platereceive the lugs 27. Nuts 29 which threadedly engage the lugs -27 arethen tightened against the upper side of the annular plate so that thesame bears against the flange 13. In this type of installation the drillout wall 19 at the upper end of the unthreaded cavity 18 is not removed,but instead, the drill out wall 17 at the base of the threaded cavity I6is drilled out and the lower end of a stuffing box 29 is positionedwithin and threadedly engages the threaded cavity. The upper orprojecting end of the stuffing box 29 is provided With a gland 30through which the insulated line 23 is positioned and a cap 3 1 providedwith a circular opening in its top threadedly engages the projecting endof the stuffing box 29 and bears against the upper end of the gland. Ashoulder 32 on the exterior surface of the stufling box may be providedwith wrench faces :33 by which the stufling 4: box may be turned in thethreaded cavity 16 until the shoulder bears upon the upper surface ofthe cylindrical body it Compression of the gland Si) by the cap 31provides a pressure seal about the insulated line 23 and permits use ofthe invention without ioss of pressure from within sealed vessels.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary constructions herein shownand described, but may be made in various Ways Within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a tank having a circular opening in the roof deckthereof, an anode mount comprising: a cylindrical solid body constructedof electrical insulating material and received in said circular openingin said roof deck, a flange larger in diameter than said circularopening and formed contiguously with one end of said cylindrically body,a ring gasket between said flange and said roof deck, a boss attached toand projecting from the other end of said cylindrical body, a transverseopening through said boss, a flexible conductor extending through saidbody at one side of said boss, and means connecting said conductor withsaid boss.

2. In combination with a tank having a circular opening in a roof deckthereof, an anode mount comprising: a cylindrical body constructed ofelectrical insulating material and received within said circular openingin said roof deck, a flange integrally and coaxially for-med with saidcylindrical member at one end thereof, a boss integrally formed withsaid cylindrical body and projecting from the other end of saidcylindrical body along the axis thereof, a transverse opening throughsaid boss, an unthreaded cavity formed in an end of said cylindricalbody and extending therein to a point oi termination near the oppositeend of said cylindrical body, a threaded cavity formed in the flangedend of said cylindrical body and extending therein to a point oftermination near the other end of said cylindrical body, and a ringgasket circurnjacent said cylindrical body between said flange and saidroof deck.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 and including: a plurality oflugs projecting exteriorly of said tank about the perimeter of saidflange, an annular plate engaging the side of said flange opposite saidgasket and including openings receiving said lugs, means securing saidannular plate to said lugs, and a stuffing box threadedly engaging saidthreaded cavity.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,281,983 Liebknecht Oct. 15, 1918 1,360,544 Levin Nov. 30, 19202,827,509 Waymen Mar. 18, 1953 2,813,692 Brernmer et al Nov. 19, 19572,957,064 'Cornenetz Oct. 18, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,042 Great Britain1910* 18,312 Australia Feb. 11, 1929 465,964 Great Britain May 20, 1937536,791 Great Britain Feb. 5, 1957

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A TANK HAVING A CIRCULAR OPENING IN THE ROOF DECKTHEREOF, AN ANODE MOUNT COMPRISING: A CYLINDRICAL SOLID BODY CONSTRUCTEDOF ELECTRICAL INSULATING MATERIAL AND RECEIVED IN SAID CIRCULAR OPENINGIN SAID ROOF DECK, A FLANGE LARGER IN DIAMETER THAN SAID CIRCULAROPENING AND FORMED CONTIGUOUSLY WITH ONE END OF SAID CYLINDRICALLY BODY,A RING GASKET BETWEEN SAID FLANGE AND SAID ROOF DECK, A BOSS ATTACHED TOAND PROJECTING FROM THE OTHER END OF SAID CYLINDRICAL BODY, A TRANSVERSEOPENING THROUGH SAID BOSS, A FLEXIBLE CONDUCTOR EXTENDING THROUGH SAIDBODY AT ONE SIDE OF SAID BOSS, AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID CONDUCTOR WITHSAID BOSS.